Rectal tube.



w. L. SHAOKLE'FORD.

REOTAL TUBE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.19, 1912.

COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH ct WASHINGTON. n, c.

WALTER L. SHACKLEFORD, OF KENNEDY, ALABAMA.

RECTAL TUBE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 9, 1913.

Application filed August 19, 1912. Serial No. 715,891.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, VVALTnn L. SniAcnLnroan, a citizen of the United States, residing at Kennedy, in the county of Lamar, Stateof Alabama, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Rectal Tubes; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in rectal tubes.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a tube of the character described which is capable of being readily inserted in place or removed, and which when in the former position can be easily retained therein.

Another object of the invention is to provide a rectal tube which is formed with a relatively stifl curved end for facilitating the insertion of the tube in the rectum.

A further object of the invention is to provide a tube for the purpose described which is composed of a minimum number of parts, is therefore simple in construction and is cheap to manufacture.

.Vith these and other objects in view, the invention consists in the construction and novel combination of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawing and pointed out in the claim hereto appended; it being understood that various changes in the form, proportion, size and minor details of construction within the scope of the claim may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the drawing: Figure 1 is a side elevation of a tube constructed in accordance with my invention, Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional. view therethrough, Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the coupling, and Fig. I is a perspective view of the cap.

Like reference numerals designate corresponding parts in all the figures of the drawing.

Referring to the drawing, A designates the main tube, B the coupling, and C the cap. The main tube A is formed from any suitable flexible material such as rubber or the like, and is formed with the usual bore 5. The tube is formed with a curved entrance end 6 which is solid and relatively stiff so as to constitute a. finder. The coupling B comprises a tube 7 having an out- \vardly extending peripheral flange 8 centrally formed thereon, one end 9 of the coupling being adapted to he frictionally retained within the end of the tube A opposite the curved end 6, and the other end 10 of the coupling being formed with exterior threads. The cap C comprises a nipple 11 having one end 1.2 reduced for connection with a hose (not shown), and the other end interiorly formed with threads for engagement with the end 10 of the coupling B. Projecting from the threaded end of the nipple is a peripheral flange 13 having a diameter larger than the diameter of the flange 8. The inner face of the flange 13 is formed with opposed beveled faces 14l-14. In practice, the operator grasps the main tube A by the coupling B and inserts the tube into the rectum, the curved end 6 acting as a tinder for facilitating the insertion of the tube. When a valve or other obstruction is encountered, the end 6 is turned in either direction until the obstruction has been passed. The tube is inserted into the rectum until the flange 8 is past the sphincter ani muscle, thereby retaining the tube against accidental outward slipping. The cap C is then connected onto the coupling, and the flange 13 fits against the rectal opening to support the muscle and also acts as a stop to prevent the tube from slipping too far. By means of the threaded connection with the coupling 13, the cap may be easily and quickly adjusted to suit varying conditions.

lVhat is claimed is:

In an instrument of the character described, a main tube, a cap formed with a peripheral flange at one end thereof, and a coupling connecting the tube and cap and centrally formed with a peripheral. flange, said flange coacting with the first mentioned flange to form a seat for the sphincter ani muscle.

In testimony whereof, I affix my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

WALTER L. SHACKLEFORD.

lVitnesses A. L. HICKS, G. T. DANIEL.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. 0. 

